One-piece shaker closure



p 1969 J. v. CROYLE 3,467,288

ONE-PIECE SHAKER CLOSURE Filed Dec. 13, 1967 VIP IN VENTOR.

FI 6 JACK VINCENT CROY United States Patent 3,467,288 ONE-PIECE SHAKER CLOSURE Jack V. Croyle, Woonsocket, R.I., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Imco Container Company, Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 13, 1967, Ser. No. 690,128 Int. Cl. B65d 47/14 US. Cl. 222-480 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A container and dispenser having a hollow body provided with a hollow cylindrical neck on which a perforated dispenser cap is rotatably mounted to move alternately into open or closed positions by rotation of the cap on the neck, and perforations or openings in the cap align with grooves recessed in the bore of the neck. The grooves are contained in outwardly and radially disposed projections on the outside wall of the container neck. The flanges between the projections provide extended shutoff valve surfaces adjacent to which the perforations in the cap are contiguously held by a snap on annular ledge in the skirt of the cap which snaps over ends of the projections which are closed at the outer portions of the container neck wall. The cap also has an annular row of projecting fingers extending into the bore of the neck, such that the spaces between the fingers provide access for powder or other materials to travel from the interior of the container and into the grooves in the bore of the neck and outwardly through the openings in the cap when turned to open position.

This invention relates to a container and dispenser, and more particularly, to a container and dispenser for containing and dispensing body powder or other similar products.

Background of the invention Various dispensers for powder and granular materials have been known, particularly those for dispensing salt and other such materials. These prior art containers and dispensers have utilized rotary members which act as valves to open or close openings through which materials may be dispensed by the usual shaking method. Many of the prior art containers and dispensers have been made of paper or glass and have not been particularly suitable for use in containing and/ or dispensing body powder due to the usual proximity to moisture, as well as possible breakage in areas such as a bathroom or the like.

Various prior art powder shakers have been constructed of metal and have utilized a plurality of parts to form a combined perforated shaker cap and closure structure all of which has been expensive for such purposes.

Summary of the invention The present invention comprises a blow molded plastic container having an integral neck and a one-piece cap all of which provides an efiicient powder shaker dispenser as well as shutofi valve structure; the container and closure or cap being of plastic and substantially impervious to liquids with the additional advantage that the container is resilient and capable of withstanding considerable shock without breakage or failure of the shaker closure to operate efliciently. I

The blow molded plastic container and dispenser of the present invention includes a hollow blow molded plastic container body having an integral generally hollow cylindrical neck provided with a bore portion having outwardly recessed grooves therein which extend to the end of the container neck and carry powder which may be dispensed through openings in a cap rotatably mounted on the container neck; the cap having openings adapted to coincide with the ends of the grooves and to be rotated out of register therewith; the cap also provided with stop means adapted to alternately engage projections on the outer side of the neck; the end of the neck having'flange structure extending radially outward from the outer wall of the neck and disposed between the projections in which the grooves are located so as to provide a broad shutoff surface for the openings in the cap when moved out of register with the ends of the grooves; the cap being captive on the container neck by means of a snap on annular ledge which engages closed ends of said projections.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a very simple and efiicient container and dispenser which is preferably molded of plastic and provided with a captive closure adapted to provide a powder shaker facility, as well as a shutoff valve structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container and dispenser particularly adapted for use in dispensing powder, or the like, and which may readily and safely be used in damp areas such as bathrooms and may be dropped without danger of breaking the container or without substantial spilling of the powder container there- 1n.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container and dispenser having very efficient powder shaker dispensing cap structure wherein openings are adapted to dispense powder and in which structure effectively seals off the openings when the cap is rotated relative to the container.

Further objects and advantages of the invention may be apparent from the following specification, appended claims, and accompanying drawings:

Brief description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a container and dispenser in accordance with the present invention, and showing the dispenser cap thereof in position to be snapped onto the retaining structure of the container neck of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 22 of FIG. 1, showing the dispenser cap of the invention securely engaged on the neck of the container of the invention, and further showing a materials dispenser opening in the cap and in open position to dispense materials from the container;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 2, and taken from the line 33 of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 showing the dispenser openings of the dispenser cap of the invention in closed position relative to shutoff surfaces of the container neck structure to which said openings are held contiguous;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken from the line 4-4 of FIGS. 2 and 3,, and showing by broken lines varying positions of the dispenser cap materials dispenser openings in relation to the powder dispensing grooves of the dispenser neck and relative to the shutoff surface structures of the container neck;

FIG. 5 is a plan view taken from the line 5-5 of FIGS. 2 and 3, but illustrating portions of the cap structure of the invention broken away and in section to amplify the illustration;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the dispenser cap of the invention taken from the line '6-6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 77 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view similar to that of FIG. 2, but showing the structure on considerably enlarged scale to illustrate the cap retaining ledge structure of the invention.

Description of the preferred embodiments The container and dispenser of the invention, as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, is provided with a hollow con- 7 tainer body 10 preferably blow molded of plastic material. This container body 10 is provided with a generally hollow cylindrical projecting neck portion 12 having a generally annular wall provided with a concentric bore 14 and a generally annular outer wall 16.

Recessed in the bore 14 are grooves -18 which have open ends communicating with a respective open end 20 of the container neck 12.

The outer wall 16 of the neck 12 is provided with a plurality of evenly spaced integral projection portions 22 in which the grooves 18 are disposed. These projection portions 22 are provided with enclosed normally lower ends 24 which form detent ledge portions with which a detent ledge structure of the container cap 26 is engaged, as will be hereinafter described in detail.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, flanges 28 project radially outward beyond the outer annular wall 16 of the neck 16 of the neck 12, and these flanges 28 are disposed between the projection portions 22 to provide substantially broad shutoff surfaces 30 adapted to cooperate with openings 32 extending through the cap 26, as will be hereinafter described in detail.

The cap 26 is provided with a cover end 33 adapted to cover the open end of the bore 14 and the open ends of the grooves 18. This cap 32 is also provided with an annular skirt 34 which, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings, surrounds the projections 22. A lower edge portion 36 of the skirt 34, as shown best in FIGS. 2 and 8 of the drawings, is disposed below the ledge portions 24 of the projections 22. Adjacent this lower edge 36 is a frusto conical bore portion 38 of the skirt 34 which is adapted to be forced over the projections 22 and snapped over the ledge portions 24. Integral with the frusto conical portion 38 is an annular ledge portion 40 of the skirt 34 which engages the ledge portions 24 of the projections 22. Thus, the cap 26 is rotatable around the projections 22, and the annular ledge 40 of the cap skirt 34 holds the openings 32 contiguous with the shutoff surfaces 30 and/ or the open ends of the grooves 18, as will be hereinafter described in detail.

The skirt 34 of the cap 26 is provided with a bore 42 which surrounds the projections 22. Integral with the cap skirt 34 and projecting radially inward from the bore 42 are a pair of stop portions 44, as shown best in FIGS. 4 and 6 of the drawings. These stop portions 44 are adapted alternately to engage adjacent projections 22 when the cap 26 is rotated into alternate positions in which the openings 32 are aligned with the open ends of the grooves 18 or with the shutoff surfaces 30, hereinbefore described. It will be seen that the stop portions 44 project inwardly into close proximity with peripheral portions 46 of the flanges 28, and it will be further appreciated that the flanges 28 extend the shutoff surfaces 30 radially a considerable distance beyond the peripheries of the openingfs 32 in the cap 26, and thus attain an efficient seal for powder or other materials to prevent the materials from passing from the container neck outwardly of the skirt 34 of the cap 26.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and of the drawings, the dispenser openings 32 are substantially funnel-shaped and diverge from the shutoff surfaces 30 to the upper and outer surface of the cap 26.

The camp 26 is provided with an annular row of spaced fingers 48 which are integral therewith and which extend inward into close proximity with the bore 14 of the neck 12. These spaced fingers are provided with outer tapered portions 50 adapted to facilitate the insertion thereof into the bore 14. Spaces 52 between the fingers 48 provide passages for powder and communicate with the grooves 18 with which the openings 32 may be indexed, as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

These spaced fingers may be utilized during the shaking of powder to dispenses the powder into the grooves 18 and may serve to break up cakes of powder, or the like, such that the grooves 187 may not be plugged.

As shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings, the cap 26, when rotated in the direction of an arrow A, may cause a disposition of the openings 32 into locations, as indicated by broken lines 54. Movement of the cap 26 in the direction of the arrow A causes one of the stops 44 to engage one side of one operation 22, while the other stop 44 engages the opposite side of another projection 22.

When the cap 26 is rotated in the direction of an arrow B, as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings, the openings 32 assumes broken line positions, as indicated at 56, and in these broken line positions, the openings 32 overlie the shutoff surfaces 30 which extend a considerable distance radially outward from the openings and to thereby provide an eflicient shutoff seal of the openings 32 when they are out of communication with the open ends of the groove 18.

As shown in FIG. 2, the openings 32 may be in the open position in communication with open ends of the grooves 18 and in the corresponding position 54, as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings.

Accordingly, simple rotative movement of the cap 26 may cause the openings 32 to be moved from the open position, as indicated in FIG. 2, to the closed position, as indicated in FIG. 3, and to respective positions illustrated in FIG. 4 and as hereinbefore described.

I claim:

1. In a container and dispenser, the combination of: a hollow container body having a generally tubular neck portion; said tubular neck portion having an open end; said tubular neck portion having a substantially annular wall structure provided with a concentric bore, said wall structure having recessed grooves therein, said grooves communicating directly with said bore; said wall structure having a generally annular outer wall provided with projections disposed and extending radially outward from said annular wall, said grooves extending into said projections, each of said grooves having an open end located at said open end of said tubular neck portion, said projections having closed ends spaced from said open end of said neck portion, said closed ends forming ledge structures extending radially outward from said annular wall; said open end of said tubular neck portion having flange portions extending outward between said projections and beyond said annular outer wall, said projections extending radially outward slightly beyond said flange portions to form cap rotational stops, said annular wall portion, at said open end of said tubular neck having a plane surface portion, said flanges forming radial extensions of said plane surface portions and thus providing a plurality of valve shutoff surfaces disposed in a generally annular row and located intermediate said open ends of said recessed grooves; and a cap having a cover end portion provided with a plurality of dispenser openings adapted to align with said open ends of said recessed grooves; said cap rotatably mounted on said neck and alternately movable so as to move said dispenser openings from an aligning position with said open ends of said grooves to a position in contiguous relation with said shutoff surfaces; said valve shutoff surfaces extending a substantial distance radially outward beyond said dispenser openings; said cap having an annular skirt surrounding outer portions of said projections; said cap having a detent ledge slidably engaging said ledge structures of said projections, whereby said cover end and said dispenser openings are held in contiguous relation with said shutoff surfaces.

2. The invention, as defined in claim 1, wherein: said skirt is provided with an integral inwardly projecting stop portion extending radially inward into close proximity with one of said flanges and adapted to move arcuately back and forth to stop positions against adjacent ones of said projections; said stop portion of said skirt, when engaging one of said projections, causes said openings to index over open ends of said grooves and when said stop portion of said skirt is disposed in engagement with an adjacent one of said projections, said dispenser openings are disposed over and in contiguous relation to said shutoff surfaces.

3. The invention, as defined in claim 2, wherein: said cap is provided with a plurality of spaced fingers disposed in an annular row and extending into the bore of said neck; the spaces between said fingers adapted to pass material in a radially outward direction toward said recessed grooves.

4. The invention, as defined in claim 2, wherein: said skirt is provided with an open end having surrounding edge; said skirt having a generally frustoconicalbore portion projecting from said last mentioned edge to said detent ledge thereby providing means for snapping said detent ledge over said ledge structures of said projections when installing said cap on said neck portion of said container body.

5. In a container and dispenser, the combination of: a hollow container body having a generally tubular neck portion; said tubular neck portion having an open end; said tubular neck portion having a substantially annular wall structure provided with a concentric bore, said wall structure having recessed grooves therein, said grooves communicating directly with said bore; said wall structure having a generally annular outer wall provided with projections disposed and extending radially outward from said annular wall, said grooves extending into said projections, each of said grooves having an open end located at said open end of said tubular neck portion, said projections having closed ends spaced from said open end of said neck portion, said closed ends forming ledgerstructures extending radially outward from said annular wall; said projections extending radially outward to form cap rotational stops, said annular wall portion, at said open end of said tubular neck having a plane surface portion providing a plurality of valve shutofl? surfaces disposed in a generally annular row and located intermediate said open ends of said recessed grooves; and a cap having a cover end portion provided with a plurality of dispenser openings adapted to align with said open ends of said recessed grooves; said cap rotatably mounted on said neck and alternately movable so as to move said dispenser openings from an aligning position with said open ends of said grooves to a position in contiguous relation with said shutoff surfaces; said cap having an annular skirt surrounding outer portions of said projections; said cap having a detent ledge slidably engaging said ledge structures of said projections, whereby said cover end and said dispenser openings are held in contiguous relation with said shutoff surfaces.

6. The invention, as defined in claim 1, wherein: said openings in said cap diverge outwardly away from said shutotf surfaces.

7. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein: the lower ends of said spaced fingers are provided with outward tapered portions to facilitate insertion into said bore.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS STANLEY H. TOLLBERG, Primary Examiner 

